I guess this is a history question more than an interior question.

Im doing a T56 swap into my firebird, and not many birds get this swap.

Ive been trying to find a shift plate for sale, but i noticed ALL of them for sale have power window, AND power mirrors. Im looking for one that only has power window option.

Was there even a 1987+ shift plate for 5 speed cars that ONLY has power window switches? If not, would it be possible to modify my auto plate?

It looks to be about the same size opening, id just have to cut away the lense part for PRNDD21....

(thats a remote for my stereo between the window switches, in case youre wondering).

 

i got an '88 with T5...totally plain area where the switches go, so you can make provisions for the power windows. I ended up adding power mirrors and put the switch in the door like the camaros.

As far as modifying what you have, if you look at the plates, on a manual plate, you have about the same size square opening, but it's closer to the ashtray as opposed to the automatics being an inch or so from the ashtray, so your hole is going to be farther back, and you may need to still make it bigger infront by the ashtray so that you can get it in first.

I thought 85 and 86 were the same as well??? Mine is just a base bird, look for a base bird with the standard tranny, and it might either have power windows or manual windows, then you can just make the holes for the power windows.

 

85-up are same

finding one with only one power option and not the other will probably be more difficult than finding one that is either both power options or neither

it is interesting to see how ppl like to make things difficult for themselves- and cant be happy with how their cars are

good luck

 

If people didnt make things difficult for themselves, we would never really learn anything. Change is always a good a thing.

In any case, i didnt know where the cutoff point was, 85 sounds about right.

I just dont want power mirros because then id just have a hole in the plate... or buttons that dont go anywhere. Plus its a nice spot for my remote....

I will start my hunt for one with only one power option or neither, would be simple enough to add holes. As for modifying the auto plate, i guess thats out of the question. It wont look clean if i enlarged the hole.

 

1987 firebird 305/5 speed,came with power windows only if it was a S/E firebird.I had one,and I have the shift plate,but I used it and made the power mirrior switch fit,so I know you wont want that one.I did see them with no switches at all at YONGSFBODY the other day,but price is steep,$150 dollers without the leather boot,I know,Im no help,lol

 

Well i would just look for some near me, no shortage of Fbodies around here. But actually that is helpful, gives me an idea of what years will give me a higher probability of finding it.

 

As mentioned, 1985-1992 used the same console and shift plates, so that should provide you with plenty of cars to search. And yes, there was a shift plate for cars with power windows only. My '87 is one such car. So what you're looking for is out there.

Power windows were available individually and also as part of the option packages. They could also be deleted from the option packages. But power mirrors were not standard, nor were they part of any option package either. They were only available as an individual option, so they weren't always ordered.

But because there were so few 5-speed cars were built, I'd think your difficulty would be finding ANY good 5-speed shift plates, regardless of whether they did or didn't have power options. So if you've found one, I'd plan to use it. If it's got the hole for the mirror option, just buy a new mirror switch to fill the plate. Who says it has to function? At least, it'll look good/right.

And here, don't forget this to make your swap complete:

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/in...ROD&ProdID=543

 

I think you can still get them from GM.. last time I looked anyway. just order it plain and cut the holes you need..

 

I found a 5-speed plate in an '90 Firebird with the LO3 and 5-speed with power windows and no power mirrors, but did the same as everyone else and made the hole for my power window switch to go into, think I picked it up for like $25 bucks.

Might want to check e-bay.

 

Yes, your auto plate can be modified easily. I did the T-5 swap in my 91 a couple of months ago and after searching for a manual shifter plate at a reasonable price I made mine work.

I got the black vinyl from Walmart...$2. I hand stitched it all together, and made 2 brackets out of sheetmetal for the underside of the plate that fit the 4 stock holes for the auto selector. I had to cut out the gear selector with a razor blade, and cut the hole out about 1/2" more toward the ashtray so the stick wouldn't hit in 1,3 &5. I sandwiched the bottom of the home made boot between the 2 sheetmetal brackets that are held on by the stock bolts in the stock locations.

 

Looks nice Fyre, but the problem is, mine isnt gonna have a boot. So i dunno if i want rough edges showing where i cut. Im gonna keep looking for a cheap shiftplate for now, if i cant find one ill resort to modification. But i got till spring, so its not a big deal.

 

There's no rough edges in mine. After I cut the hole out I sanded it down smooth. Even looking at it close it's very, very hard to tell that it's been cut....unless you really know what to look for.

 

Mind posting a close up of the corner? Its hard to tell from those pix. Definately looks clean, but i assumed it would be rough because it is cut.

 

The plates are made out of ABS. Easily sanded. If you wish, wipe with some acetone on a cloth and that will smooth it out even more (but test on back to get the "feel" of the process!).

 

I had to cut into mine I used a dremmel tool it cut it nice I then put on the file bit and rounded it and I also used aceton you have to be very careful though looks like brand new, like Greg said test first so you get the feel

 

My batteries ran out, so i couldnt take a pic, but i threw my console and shift plate back on today, and noticed, the T56 with a B&M shifter will work just fine in the "auto" shifter plate, completely unmodified. The only gear that comes close to hitting the shift plate is 5th, but it just touches the plate, not binding. I may sand down that part of the shifter plate, but i think ill stick with this shift plate.

Just wanted to post this because, i thought the auto plate would not work at all! But its actually very close.

 

i just wanted to say that the interior pic is a good shot of one flipping beautiful looking interior. keep those pics coming as you work on it, giving me some good ideas for my build.

 

Thanks! I havent done much to it, the previous owners did a good job of keeping it clean, and im trying my best not to spill stuff on it.

The floor mats, and the seat covers definately help.

I love the subtle mods, that look like they were there from factory. I really hate the silver deck. It was "pictured" blackish grey, but they said they discontinued that model. I was kinda ticked..... Ill see if i can paint it this summer.

 

If 5th almost hits the shift plate, then reverse will definatly either hit the shift plate, or keep it from going into reverse, might want to check.